Ahead of his first student convention in Kota, Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi on Monday said every paper leak, cancelled examination and stalled recruitment process represents not only a systemic failure but also a serious setback to the aspirations of millions of young Indians.
In a post on X written in Hindi, Gandhi said today's youth are often rewarded not for their hard work but instead face repeated obstacles when they dare to dream about a better future.
“One message I want to give to every young person in the country is that today, hard work alone does not guarantee results. Instead, many students are being punished simply for having aspirations and striving to achieve them,” he said.
He added that incidents such as examination paper leaks, cancelled recruitment tests and delayed hiring processes are more than administrative lapses, describing them as direct attacks on the hopes and ambitions of countless students and job seekers.
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“I understand that many young people are frustrated, exhausted and angry. But when those in power refuse to listen, it becomes even more important to raise your voice and demand accountability,” Gandhi said. Calling upon students to join his campaign, he urged them to gather in Kota on June 17 for the event titled “Students' Echo.”
“That is why I am inviting all of you to Kota on June 17. Let us come together and transform our voices into a force that cannot be ignored. The movement will begin in Kota and then spread to every corner of the country,” he said.
Gandhi also assured students and job aspirants that he stands firmly with them, describing the campaign as a fight to secure their future and restore fairness to the examination and recruitment system.
The Congress party has announced that the first phase of its nationwide campaign against paper leaks and alleged examination irregularities will commence with a series of student conventions addressed by Gandhi. The opening event is scheduled to take place in Kota on June 17.
According to the party, the initiative aims to bring together students irrespective of political affiliation and provide a platform for those affected by examination-related controversies to share their experiences and seek accountability for recurring paper leak incidents and recruitment failures.
As part of the outreach programme, Gandhi will address large student gatherings in several cities, beginning with Kota on June 17, followed by Allahabad on July 10, Patna on July 11 and Delhi on July 14. The conventions are expected to involve students, competitive exam aspirants, youth groups, educators and others impacted by the alleged examination scandals.
The Congress said the campaign would focus on the difficulties faced by millions of young people whose educational and career prospects have been affected by repeated paper leaks, increasing examination expenses and what it described as the government's inability to ensure a transparent and merit-based recruitment system.
The party also stated that it would reinforce Gandhi’s call for greater student mobilisation through extensive grassroots outreach led by the National Students' Union of India (NSUI), Youth Congress, Pradesh Congress Committees, District Congress Committees and local organisational units across the country.
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